Parliament Passes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019

Home Minister Amit Shah, in response to the debate on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha claims that this bill has been introduced in order to rectify a historic blunder.

He said that the need for the introduction of the bill goes way back to the time of the partition and Pakistan’s failure in the protection of its minorities.

He mentioned that despite the existence of individuals such as that of Kapil Sibal and Anand Sharma, he would once again reiterate that the partition was based on the force of religion. This bill was to also address the problems created by the partition since if any government would’ve stepped up and solved the problem, there would not be any need for the bill. It was these blunders that forced him to introduce this very bill. If this bill was brought in 50 years ago, the situation, in his opinion, would not be as severe as it is today.

The home minister went on to say that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP government was not only formed to run the country but also to set all things right.

Taking a jibe at the opposition when members laughed at his viewpoint, he said that laughing at an idea is very easy and that there was no bar on laughing. However, when they laugh, people see what they are laughing at their problems.

The Nehru-Liyaqat promised religious minorities of every country, equal opportunities in the sectors of politics, services and also permission to practice the faith.

Shah calls to mind this promise and alludes to the conditions in Pakistan and the current situation of minorities in the country.

Major protests have been ensuing in the country over this bill. Army columns have been put on standby and deployed in places in the North East for maintaining law and order amid the raging protests against the Bill.

In the middle of this chaos, the Parliament has passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill with 125-105 votes. The whole country awaits the aftermath of this decision and it’s implications.